Muzzle.



PATENTBD JAN. 24, 1905.

- MUZZLE.

APPLIOATION H LBD snPT. 26, 19o-1.

WITNESSE UNITED ySTATES Patented January 24, A1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. FOSTER, OF GOREVILLE, ILLINOIS.

NIUZZLE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersl Patent No. 780,879, dated January 24, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1904:. Serial No. 225,987.

To a/Z whom t may concern,.-

Be' it known that I, WILLIAM A. Fos'rnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Goreville, in the county of Johnson and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Muzzle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in muzzles for horses, mules, or the like, the object being to provide a muzzle of simple and light yet strong and lasting construction that may be readily` adjusted as to size and when in position will not interfere with the portion of the bit in the animals mouth and also to provide a close-fitting muzzle which cannot be removed by the animal when in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the general description. f

I will describe a muzzle embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be hadjto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 shows a muzzle embodying my invention arranged on a horse, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the muzzle.

The muzzle consists of a' single length of` strong spring yielding wire bent to `forni upper side members 1 and lower side members 2, the opposite upper members terminating in a forwardly and upwardly extended noseloop 3, while the opposite lower members 2 terminate in what may be termed a chinloop 4, although in use this loop 4 engages just rearward of the animals chin. While the main portion of the muzzle consists of round wire, the loop portions are preferably flat, so as to prevent undue abrasion, which' would wear away the hair of the animal.

, As a means for adjusting the muzzle-that is, to move the loops toward each other-I employ straps 5, which engage around the upper and lower members 1 2, asclearly indicated in the drawings. These straps are arranged at the junction of the members 1 and 2 and the loop portions, and vthe metal at this point is depressed, as indicated at 6, to prevent the slipping backward or forward of the adjust-- ing-straps. To increase the space between the loops, the straps may be loosened, and the resiliency of the metal will cause the spreading. As a means for securing the muzzle on a horse I employ a strap 7 connected to the side members and adapted to pass over the head of the animal, back of the ears.

When the muzzle is in position, the noseloop will engage over the nose rearward of the nostrils, thus not interfering with free breathing, and the loops will be rearward of the mouth, so as to not interfere with the action of the bit in the animals mouth. The

muzzle should be so adjusted as to prevent the animal opening its mouth 'to such an extent as to use its back teeth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A muzzle comprising a length of spring metal' formed with upper and lower side members, the said upper members terminating in a nose-loop and the said lower members terminating in a chin-loop, and adjusting devices engaging with the said members.

2. A muzzle comprising a length of spring metal formed with upper and lower side members, the upper members termin ating in a noseloop while the lower members terminate in a chin-loop, the upper and lower members near their junctions with the loops being depressed,

and adjusting-straps engaging in said depressions.

3. A muzzle consisting of a single length 4. A muzzle consisting of a single length l IntestimonyWhereofhaveslgnedmynmne of Wire bent to form upper side members and to this specloation in the presence of two sub- 10 lower side membersl, the ulpr nembers terscrbing witnesses. minatng in a noseoop an tle oWer mem- 1 t, t 1 5 bers terminating in a Chin-loop, the loops be- 'WILLIAM A 14 Obi LR" ing free one from the other, whereby they Vltnesses: may be sprung apart, and means for drawing R. B. COLEMAN, the loops toward each other. O. S. COLE. 

